Potlotek Officials Frustrated With DFO Approach to Modern Livelihood Fishery

POTLOTEK FIRST NATION - Officials here are still demanding answers from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and its minister, Bernadette Jordan, nearly a month after DFO officers removed lobster traps set by Potlotek lobster fishermen as part of a moderate livelihood fishery launched in St. Peter's Bay at the start of October. 

Chief Wilbert Marshall and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Crystal Nicholas spoke to TELILE 24/7 host-producer Adam Cooke about the situation, which saw no sign of resolution by the third week of November. 

Chief Marshall noted that the Richmond County Mi'kmaw community had sought to launch a moderate livelihood fishery for several years, since the 1999 Supreme Court decision which asserted that Cape Breton Mi'kmaw fisher Donald Marshall had the right to pursue a moderate livelihood fishery based on treaties reached between indigenous groups and North American settlers in 1752. 

"Our guys have been at this for awhile," Chief Marshall declared. "We've been at this for a few years now, even [before the] Marshall [decision]."

Shortly after DFO officers seized the traps and other fishing gear from boats sailing out of the St. Peter's Canal in early October, Chief Marshall led a protest at the nearest DFO office at Lennox Passage. Since the office was closed that day, there was no opportunity for dialogue, and the Potlotek chief now says he is "frustrated" by the approach taken by DFO Minister Jordan, who represents a Nova Scotia riding. 

CEO NIcholas echoed this discontent in a separate interview.

"This really affects the community," she declared. "We had put a lot of effort into this plan to pursue this fishery...It was pretty disheartening to see the reaction from DFO at that time."